Multiple compartment storage and dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A storage and dispensing apparatus designed to contain pre-measured amounts of a substance(s). The apparatus comprises at least one compartment, preferably at least two compartments, for storing the substance(s) that is partially enclosed by a frangible seal, an applicator or dispensing conduit, and an expandable chamber designed to accept and dissipate the hydraulic force created when pressure is applied to the at least one compartment rupturing the frangible seal, and expelling the substance(s) into the chamber. The applicator is attached to the chamber with an applicator bond area. The expandability of the chamber is conferred by expandability of the chamber walls and of the applicator, when present, and is varied in different embodiments by altering the ratio between the area of the applicator bond area and the area of the applicator. The frangible seal, in one of many embodiments, may be a chevron shape stress riser with a point of inflection oriented towards the compartment. A removable cap may cover the applicator or dispensing conduit.

1. A dispensing and application apparatus wherein the apparatus is designed to contain a flowable substance, comprising:
 first and second compartments; 
 first and second frangible seals; 
 at least one sheet divided by at least one seal to form said first and second compartments; 
 an applicator having a periphery and being joined to the at least one sheet with at least one applicator bond; 
 an expansible chamber being formed by the at least one sheet, and the applicator, and bounded in part by the applicator, the at least one applicator bond, and the second frangible seal such that the expansible chamber absorbs a portion of the kinetic energy of the flowable substance after it breaks through the second frangible seal; 
 wherein said first frangible seal separates said first and second compartments and said second frangible seal separates said second compartment and said expansible chamber; and, 
 wherein said first frangible seal further includes a first stress riser oriented in the direction of the first compartment and is designed to break when exposed to a first predetermined pressure internal to the compartment, created by externally pinching the first compartment, where the first frangible seal peels apart in such a manner that no portion of the frangible seal separates from the at least one sheet and becomes entrained in the flowable substance, thereby creating a channel permitting fluid communication between said first compartment and said second compartment and said second frangible seal further includes a second stress riser oriented in the direction of the second compartment and is designed to break when exposed to a second predetermined pressure, internal to the compartment, created by externally pinching the second compartment, where the second frangible seal peels apart in such a manner that no portion of the frangible seal separates from the at least one sheet and becomes entrained in the flowable substance, thereby creating a channel permitting fluid communication between at least said second compartment, said chamber and said applicator. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stress risers are formed of at least one sharp inflection point. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said stress risers formed of at least one sharp inflection point further comprise a substantially chevron shape having a sharp inflection point oriented in the direction of said first and second compartments. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said frangible seals is formed to include a frangible seal first edge and a frangible seal second edge, and the substantially chevron shape has a rear chevron inflection point whereby a maximum orthogonal distance from the rear inflection point to the frangible seal second edge is less than a maximum orthogonal distance between the frangible seal first edge and the frangible seal second edge. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a porous absorbent pad. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator is a foam pad. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sheet comprises a flexible laminated foil. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the bond area is between 62.5% and 87.5% of the surface area of the applicator. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an applicator cover adapted to releasably enclose the applicator. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one seal and said frangible seals are thermal seals. 
     
     
       11. A dispensing and application apparatus wherein the apparatus is designed to contain a flowable substance, comprising:
 at least two compartments; 
 a first sheet section and a second sheet section interconnected with a primary seal and at least two frangible seals to form said compartments, the frangible seals further including stress risers oriented in the direction of the compartments and being designed to break when exposed to a predetermined pressure internal to the compartments, created by externally pinching the compartments, where the frangible seals peel apart in such a manner that no portion of the frangible seals separates from the at least one sheet and becomes entrained in the flowable substance, thereby creating a channel permitting fluid communication between the compartments and an expansible chamber; 
 an applicator having a periphery and being joined to the first sheet section and the second sheet section with at least one applicator bond; and 
 the expansible chamber being formed by the first sheet section, the second sheet section, and the applicator, and bounded in part by the applicator, the applicator bond, and one frangible seal. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first sheet section and the second sheet section are formed from a single sheet by folding the sheet along a fold line, whereby the first sheet section and second sheet section are additionally interconnected at the fold line. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said stress risers are formed of at least one sharp inflection point. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said stress risers formed of at least one sharp inflection point further comprise a substantially chevron shape having a sharp inflection point oriented in the direction of said compartment. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first sheet section and said second sheet section comprise flexible laminated foil. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the surface area of the bond area is between 62.5% and 87.5% of the surface area of the applicator. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an applicator cover adapted to releasably enclose the applicator. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said primary seal and said frangible seal are thermal seals. 
     
     
       19. A dispensing, mixing, and application apparatus wherein the apparatus is designed to separately contain a plurality of substances, comprising:
 at least one sheet divided by a plurality of frangible seals to form a plurality of compartments including a first compartment housing a first substance and a second compartment housing a second substance; 
 a first frangible seal located at an intermediate edge between the first compartment and the second compartment, further including a first stress riser oriented in the direction of the first compartment and designed to break when exposed to a first predetermined pressure, internal to the compartment, created by externally pinching the first compartment, where the first frangible seal peels apart in such a manner that no portion of the frangible seal separates from the at least one sheet and becomes entrained in the flowable substance, less than or equal to a second predetermined pressure, thereby creating a channel permitting communication between the first compartment and the second compartment permitting mixing of the first and second substances; 
 a second frangible seal located at a common edge between the second compartment and a chamber, further including a second stress riser oriented in the direction of the second compartment and designed to break when exposed to a second predetermined pressure internal to the compartment, created by externally pinching the second compartment, where the second frangible seal peels apart in such a manner that no portion of the frangible seal separates from the at least one sheet and becomes entrained in the flowable substance, thereby creating a channel permitting communication between the second compartment and an expansible chamber; and 
 the expansible chamber being formed by the at least one sheet such that the expansible chamber absorbs a portion of the kinetic energy of the flowable substance after it breaks through the second frangible seal, and dispensing a mixture of at least the first and second substances. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , further including an applicator having a periphery and being joined to the at least one sheet with at least one applicator bond so that the chamber is bounded in part by the applicator, the at least one applicator bond, and the second frangible seal. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the applicator comprises a porous absorbent pad. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the applicator is a foam pad. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the applicator bond exterior edge is within the applicator periphery. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the surface area of the bond area is between 62.5% and 87.5% of the surface area of the applicator. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the chamber has a dispensing conduit having a removable conduit end cap so that the dispensing conduit may transmit the mixture of the first and second substances to a dispensing point when the removable conduit end cap is removed. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sheet includes a first sheet section and a second sheet section. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first sheet section and the second sheet section are formed from a single sheet by folding the sheet along a fold line. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein stress risers are formed of at least one sharp inflection point. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein each stress riser formed of at least one sharp inflection point further comprises a chevron shape having a sharp inflection point oriented in the direction of the associated compartment. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein each frangible seal is formed to include a frangible seal first edge and a frangible seal second edge, and the chevron shape has a rear chevron inflection point whereby a maximum orthogonal distance from the rear inflection point to the frangible seal second edge is less than a maximum orthogonal distance between the frangible seal first edge and the frangible seal second edge. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises a flexible laminated foil material. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one seal and the frangible seals are thermal seals.